Cone cup machine



Dec. 9, 1958 E. T. THIEM coNE CUP MACHINE 6 Sheets-Sheet 1 OriginalFiled Deo. 10, 1949 .filme/linz: IgE/ze 24T/12km. ,5f/p6@ my $2/ WM if@Dec. 9, 1958 E. T. THIEM 2,863,368

GONE: CUP MACHINE Original Filed Deo. l0, 1949 6 Sheets-Sheet 2 Dec. 9,1958 E. T. THIEM coNE CUP MACHINE 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 Original Filed Dec.10, 1949 Dec. 9, 1958 E. T. THIEM coNE CUP MACHINE 6 Sheets-Sheet 4Original Filed Deo. 10, 1949 lfm..

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GONE CUP MACHINE Original Filed Deo. 10, 1949 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 Dec. 9,`1958 E. T. THIEM GONE CUP MACHINE 6 Sheecs--Sheei'I 6 Original FiledD60. l0. 1949 United States Patent "ice CONE CUP MACHINE Eugene T.Thiem, Des Plaines, Ill., assignor` to Contlnental Can Company, Inc.,New York, N. Y., a corporation of New York riginal application December10, 1949, Serial N0. 132,257, now Patent No. 2,703,514, dated March 8,1955. Divided and this application March 2, '1955, Serial No. 491,691 fThis invention relates to a machine for automatically forming cups yofpaper, sheet plastic or the like, the cups being cone-shaped, andprovided with a safety fold at the apex and a rim at the upper edge ofthe cup, the present application being a division of my co-pendingapplication, Serial No. 132,257, tiled December 10, 1949, now Patent No.2,703,514, dated March S, 1955.

One object of the invention is to provide a machine of the generalcharacter just referred to which is comparatively simple and whichautomatically performs the functions of wrapping a cone blank on amandrel for forming a cone-shaped cup, reinforcing the apex of the cone,rimming the upper edge of the cup and nally discharging the finishedcup.

Another object is to provide a cup forming machine wherein cone mandrelsare provided with gripping'ngers to` grip the advance edges of cupforming blanks, the mandrels having grooves to receive such advanceedges and thereby position the blanks with respect to the mandrels, thegripping ngers holding the blanks so that they may be wound on themandrels while the mandrels advance around a circle from a blankreceiving station of the machine to a cup removing station thereof.

Still another object is to provide a rotary head for supporting aplurality of cone mandrels and a means for intermittently driving thehead so that it rotates part of a revolution and then remains stationaryfor part of the time so that the cup blanks may be received and the cupforming and removing operations may be performed at various stations ina continuous manner, thereby providing a machine which has comparativelygreat production capacity.

A further object is to provide means to rotate the cone mandrels onlywhile they are moving from station to station and to provide pressureshoes between the stations for winding the blanks on the mandrels asthey are rotated between stations, at least two stations being providedwith heated shoes that apply heat and also additional pressure to theseams of the cups to insure that the seams are properly sealed.

Still a further object is to provide one station of the machine with anelement that provides a reinforcing safety fold at the apex of the cupwhere leakage is most likely to occur, thus making for additionalthicknesses at the apex, a cone-shapedsocket element being provided atthis station for rounding the apex and folding d-own the portion thereofadjacent the safety fold in addition to pressing down a tab over thesafety fold if desired.

An additional object is to provide means at a further station forapplying heat to the apex of the cup for iinishing the apex which ofnecessity must be the strongest portion of the 4cup and for spin-rollinga rim on the cup by means of a rotating rimming die and a cooperatingtucking die, the rim being formed after the tucking die deforms theupper marginal edge of the cup into cylindrical shape.

A further additional `object is to provide a stacker 2,863,368 PatentedDee. 9, 1958 2 mechanism at a further station of the machine at whichstation stripping fingers cooperate with the finished cup on themandrel, remove it therefrom, and transfer it into the stackermechanism, which mechanism includes holding means to prevent return ofthe stripped cup with the stripper ngers.

A further additional object is to provide a cone cup forming machinewhich is adaptable for forming paper cups provided with either gummedorthermoplastic adhesive patterns, or for forming cups made ofthermoplastic sheet material blanks which would seal together underVheat applied at the seam without the necessity of an added adhesivepattern.

Figure l is a plan View of a machine embodying my present invention formaking rolled rim cone cups of the type herein disclosed.

Figure la is an enlarged View of a portion of Figure 1 to illustrate aportion `of a mandrel, shown in section, to receive a cup blank.

Figure 2 is a front elevation yof the gear box of the machine with oneportion broken away and another portion shown in section on theline 2-2of Figure 1, the turret being removed therefrom, and various operationperforming elements likewiseremoved, with certain linkage thereto andthe shaft for the turret shown in section.

Figure 3 is a sectional View on the line 3--3 of Figure 1 showingparticularly the drive for the gear `box and blank gripper openingmechanisms.

Figure 4 is an enlarged front elevation of the turret portion of themachine and the operating mechanisms omitted from Figure 2.

Figure'4r`1. is a sectional View of a portion of Figure 4 to showdetails of construction to better advantage.

Figure 5 is a side elevation, partly in section adjacent the top of themachine, and is taken from the right side of Figure l, a cone cup beingshown on the upper mandrel but -omitted from the lower two.

Figure l6 is a fragmentary detail partly in section, showing certainoperating elements omitted from Figure 5.

Figure 7 is `an enlarged sectional View on the line 7--7 of Figure 4showing the mechanism for performing certain operations on the cone cupand its rolled rim, and the mechanism for removinglnished ycups from theturret.

Figure 7a is an enlarged sectional View of the portion of Figure 7within the dotted circle 7a.

Figure 8 is an enlarged sectional view through one of the mandrels andthe turret as taken on the line 8 8 of Figure 4 (but showing the mandrelturned 180 to better illustrate the blank gripper mechanism thereof)together with elements for operating the same.

Figure 9 is an enlarged sectional View on the line 9 9 of Figure 8showing a blank gripper in closed position. A

` Figure l0 is a fragmentary view similar to Figure 9 showing the blankgripper open.

Figure 11 is a sectionalview on the line 11 -11 of Figure 4 showing afloating pressing'shoe iat station (2) of the machine.

`Figure 12 is a front elevation of part of the mechanism at station (3)of the machine with a portion `thereof as shown in Figure 4 omitted fromthis ligure.

Figure 13 is a View looking in the direction of the arrows `13 adjacentFigure l2 and showing an apex folder blade coacting with theapex of acup for forming a safety fold.

` Figure 13a is an enlarged View of a portion of Figure 13 to moreclearly show the safety fold being formed at the apex ofthe cup.

pleting the folding of a tab over the safety fold.

Figure 16 is an enlarged sectional view of that portion of Figure 7shown within the dotted circle indicated at 16 and illustrating theparts in Figure 7 before the rim of the cup is bent down to acylindrical shape.

Figure 17` is a similar view showing the parts in the position of Figure7, the rim of the cup being vbent to cylindrical shape.

Figure 18 is a similar view showing another position of the parts inwhich the rim is rolled around the top of the cup.

Figure l9-is an enlarged sectional view on the line of the Geneva dis-c78. The disc 78 also has semi-circular depressions 86 in which the edgeof a second disc 88 on the gear 82 is adapted to travel. The disc 88 hasa pair of semi-circular depressions 90 to receive the extremities of theGeneva disc 78 during a portion of the rotation of the gear 82.

The gear 82 and the disc 88 rotate counterclockwise 1 for rotating theturret clockwise one sixth of a revolution 19-,19 Vof Figure 7 showing acup holding element of the cup delivery tube.

Figure 20 is a plan view of a mandrel with a cup thereon and of apressure and heating shoe at station (2) of the machine.

Figure 21 is an elevation, partly in section, showing the cup finishedexcept for rolling the rim; and

Figure 22 is a similar elevation showing the completed cup with itsrolled rim. Y

v On the accompanying drawings, I have used the reference numeral 10 toindicate a base and 12 to indicate a gear housing thereon. The gearhousing is provided with/a bearing 14 in which a spindle 16 is rotatablymounted. v The spindle 16, as illustrated in Figure 8, has a taperedportion 18 on which the hub 20 of a turret is secured as by a nut 22.The turret consists of a disc 24 secured to an annular ilange 26 of thehub 20 as by cap screws 28, the disc supporting six cone-shapedcupforrning mandrels and each mandrel being journaled in a hub 32 of thedisc.

Describing one of the mandrel supporting means in detail, the mandrelhas a cylindrical base 31 terminating in a base plate 34 secured to asleeve 36 by screws 38 as shown in Figure 8. The screws extend through aweb 40 which web extends inwardly from the sleeve 36 and terminates in ahub 42 mounted as by a set screw 44 on a sleeve 46. The sleeve 46 inturn is journalled in ball bearings 48 mounted in the hub 32. Themandrel 30 also has its apex rounded as indicated at 33.

Referring to Figure 9 wherein a lateral cross section of the mandrel 30is shown, a V-groove 50 extends along the surface of the mandrel (leftside of the mandrel in Figure 1a). It is cut out .as indicated at 52 toaccom modate blank grippers 54. These are in the form of sheet metalfingers secured to an enlarged head 56 on a rod 58. The rod isoscillatable in a bore of the sleeve 46, the fingers being secured tothe head 56 by screws 60 and short arms 62 being clamped to the otherends of the rods as shown in Figures 3 and 9. Figure 3 shows clamp screw64 for clamping the larms 62 of the six rods 58 in the desired positionon the rods 58.

Wrapped around each rod 58 is a spring 66 having one end 68 engaging oneof the fingers 54 and its other end 70 engaging in an opening `72 of thebase 34 as shown in Figure 8. Referring to Figure 9, the bottom of the Vnotch 50 is indicated at 74. This serves as a stop means for the conecup blank :as will hereinafter be described. The fingers 54 terminate indown-turned ilanges 76 to engage the marginal edge of the blank as willalso be described.

For rotating the turret disc 24 one-sixth of a revolution at a time,`and for causing it to remain stationary between the periods ofrotation, I provide suitable mecha- .nism such as a Geneva movementwhich will now be described. A disc 78 (Figure 2) is secured to theshaft 16 and is provided with radial grooves 80.v The disc 78 is drivenintermittently by a gear 82 having a pair of indexing rollers 84 tocooperate with-the radial slots 80 each half-revolution of the gear. Fordriving the lgear' 82 I provide a pinion 92 operatively secured to agear 94 which in turn meshes with a pinion 96. The pinion 96 is securedto a drive shaft 98 having thereon a pulley 100 as shown in Figure 3which may be belted to a suitable motor 102 as shown in Figure 1 by abelt 104. The motor pulley is illustrated in 105.

The Geneva movement described will rotate the turret disc 24 one-sixthrevolution, then permit it to remain stationary for a period of time,then rotate it another one-sixth revolution and so on. During the timethe turret is rotating, it is desirable to rotate the cone mandrels 30but permit them to remain stationary during the time the turret isstationary. This is accomplished by providingon each sleeve 46 a pinion106 as shown in Figure 8 which pinion is in mesh with a stationary gear108. The gear 108 is secured to the bearing 14 of the gear housing 12 bycap screws 110.

i In'addition to driving the turret through the Geneva movement, theshaft 112 on which the gear 92 is mounted drives a cross-shaft 114journall-ed in bearings 116 of the gear housing 12 as shown in Figure l.The mechanism for driving the shaft 114 from the shaft 112 consists ofbevel gears 118 and 120. The shaft 114 is for driving various mechanismsof the machine, as will hereinafter appear.

n Referring to Figure 3, the shaft 112 also drives a disc 122 havingtherein a cam groove 124. A roller 126 is adapted to travel in thegroove 134 and is carried by a lever 128 pivotally mounted at 130 on thegear housing 12. The upper end of this lever drives a slide 132 in aguide 134 and the lower end is connected by a link 136 to a lever 138pivoted at 140 in the gear housing. The slide 132 and the lever 138carry rollers 142 and 144 respectively which are adapted to engage thearms 62 on the gripper operating rods 58 at stations (5 )and (1)respectively of the turret. These stations are indicated throughout thevarious drawings by numerals in circles to distinguish from referencenumbers.

Floating pressure shoes are provided for engaging the cup blanks on themandrels as the mandrels carry the blanks from stations (2), (3), and(4) successively. These shoes are designated as 146, 148 and 150 inFigure 4. They are similar in cross-section, the shoe 148 being shown inFigure l1, but they vary slightly in the way they are cut off at theleft and right hand ends as illustrated in Figure 4.

Each shoe comprises an arcuate base 152, a radial web 154 and a flange156 (see Figure 1l) which is a segment of an internal cone surface. Thebases 152 are received in an arcuate supporting channel 158 supported bya bracket 160 which in turnl is supported on a shroud 162 surroundingthe hubs 32 of the turret disc 24 and the pinions 106 together with thegear 108 that meshes with them. The shroud 162 in turn is secured to thegear housing 12. The bases 152 of the floating shoes 146, 148 and 150are held from dropping out of the channel 158 by arcuate cov-e1- straps164 held in position by cap screws 166.

Intermediate the shoes 146 and 148 is a heated pres.- sure shoe 168, andintermediate the shoe 148 and the shoe 150 is a `second heated pressureshoe 170. These shoes are similar, the shoe being shown in Figure 7. Itis somewhat similar in cross-section to the shoes 146, 148, and 150,having a base 172 in the channel 158 and a cone-shaped presser flange174. The central portion of this flange may be dished slightly asindicated at 174a assenso 5. atfstation (2) in Figure 4 and at station(3) in- Figure 12 to conform somewhat to the contour of the mandrel 30so as to provide a wider pressure and heating area than possible withtangential engagement, as will hereinafter more fully be described.

Each of the shoes 168 and 170 is of the `construction shown in Figure.7, having a socket 176` to receive a heating element 178, preferably ofthe electric type. Each heated pressure shoe` is backed by a spring180so as to. give pressure in addition to the weight of the shoe asdistinguished from the oating shoes 146, 148, and 150 held against themandrels merely by their own weight.

The series of shoes 146, 168, 148, 170,` and 150 Vare linked together inthe order just listed as illustrated in Figure 4 by links 182. Withlsuch an arrangement all of the shoes may be threadedl into thesupporting channel 158 from either end` and after they are installed ascrew 184 (see Figure 11) is passed through the bracket '16 and threaded`at 186 into the supporting channel 158. The lower end of the screw isturned down as at 188 vto enter an opening 190 in the base 152 of theshoe 148, lthe opening being slightly larger than the element 188 toavoid restricting the movement of the shoe. The 'projection 188` therebyholds the entire assembly of ve .shoes in position against dislodgementfrom their supporting channel 158 butpermits them to float freely asLdictated by gravity and the springs 180 opposed by :the mandrels asthey pass beneath the shoes.

At station (3) of the machine means are provided Vfor forming aleak-proof safety fold at the apex of the Icup and for reinforcing theapex by means of a tab to `overlie the safety fold. This is perhaps bestshown in VFigures 4, and 12 to 14. It consists of a bracket 192 .securedto the supporting channel 158 by screws 194. AA rod 196 extends from thebracket 192 and has clamped thereto a bracket 198. The clamp screw isshown at i200.

A rod 202 extends from the bracket 198 and has rigidly irnounted thereona bracket 204 carrying a stop screw .286. An arm 288 is pivoted on therod 202 and carries :an apex folder blade 218. The arm 208 is biased tonor- ;mally engage the stop screw 206 by means of a spring 1212, one endof which engages the bracket and the other `end of which engages a clampcollar 214. The outer end of the blade 210 is approximately tangent tothe `circular path followed by the apices of the cones 30 :as the turretrotates.

Also at station (3) a tab folder plunger 216iis provided (seeparticularly Figures 7 and 13 to 15). The zplunger 21.6 has a conicalsocket 218 with which passageways 228 communicate for permitting escapeof air. The jplung-er 216 is slidably carried in a sleeve 222, thesleeve :being clamped in a boss 224` by a clamp screw 226 (see Figures 4and 5). The boss 224is carried by an apex .folder bracket 228 which, `asshown in Figure 4, is sefcured by screws 231i to a cross-head 232. Thesides -of the cross-head are secured to bars 234 having rollers i235which travel in guideways 236. The left hand guideway is supported by abracket 238 and the right Vhand one is supported by a bracket 248. Thesebrackets `are secured by screws 242 to flanges 244 extending upiwardlyfrom a bracket 394 on th-e base 10.

Returning to Figures 7 andlS, the plunger 216 has :a rod-like stem 246extending on through the sleeve 222 and slidable in an adjustable sleeve248 threaded into the sleeve 222 for backing up a spring 258 at its lefthand end, the right hand end of the spring being engaged with theplunger 216 for tending to extend it toward the right in relation to thesleeve 222 so that in its normal position a flange252 en the plunger23.6 lengages a stop shoulder 254 in the sleeve 222. At times '.therod246 `is pushed Vtoward the left to compress the .'springZuSt) as shownin Figures 7 and 15 and at its limit @of movement in this direction.compresses a rubber disc 256 in the adjusting sleeve. 243 which isbacked up by a .set screw 258 and a locking set screw 260.

At station (4) the cross-head or reciprocating carriage 232 carries aheated apex pressure plunger 262 for sealing and setting the apex of thecone cup, and mechanism is operated at this station for spin-rolling arim on the cup which will now be described. The pressure plunger 262shown in Figure 7 has a .socket receiving an electric heating element264. The` plunger is threaded in a bushing 266 which in turn is securedto a carriage housing 268 by screws 270. The` housing 268 is formed aspart of the cross-head or reciprocating carriage 232.

A cone 272 forms an extension of a cone-shaped socket 274 in the plunger262 and this cone carries at its small end a cylindrical flange 276. Theflange 276 is slidable in the housing 268 and the large end of the coneis slidable in a bead tucking die 278 of the housing 268 secured theretoby screws 280. The cone 272 is `normally biased toward the right VinFigure 7 by a spring 282 with its flange 276 against a stop lug 284 of ascrew 286.

The extension 278 for-ms a `bead tucking die having a `tucking lip 288.Slidable and rotatable on the sleeve 36 and the cylindrical base 31 ofeach cone 30 is a rimming die 29) having an annular rimming groove 292.The die 290, as shown in Figure 8, is secured by screws 388 to a pulleymember 298 having an outwardly opening groove 294 around it. This groovenormally travels along a C-s-haped track arranged in a plane normal tothe axis of the turret, .which track keeps the rimming dies 298 at theaxial position illustrated in this figure. The C-track 296 hasextremities indicated at 382 and 384 in Figures 4 and 5. The Vgapbetween these extremities is bridged by a shoe 386 which is somewhatthinner than the C-track 296 to prevent its contact with a frictionwheel 352 to be later described. The shoe 306 is carried by a slide 308which is guided in a slideway 310 on the `shroud 162 and is actuated bya forked lever 312 pivoted at 314 to the gear housing 12. The forked endhas a block 316 slidable ther-ein, which block is pivoted to the slide308.

Intermediate the ends of the lever 312 an enlargement 318 is provided.This enlargement is perforated so that a rod 328 extends looselytherethrough and the rod carries collars 322 and 324 for engagingopposite sides of the enlargement 318. The rod32tl terminates in a -fork326 which .straddles a hub 328 on the cross shaft 114. The fork 326carries a roller 33) received in a cam groove 332 of a cam disc 334.

The cross head or carriage 232 is reciprocated by means of a link 336pivoted thereto at 338. This link extends toward the right from thepivot as shown in Figure 5 and the link is completed in Figure 6 whereinI illustrate a crank pin 340 on the disc 334 extending from a `boss 342on the face of the disc. A bearing block 344 is rotatable on the pin 348and is slidable in relation to the link 336 for adjustment purposes. Aspring 346 tends to keep the `bearing against an adjusting screw 348threaded in the link 336. The screw 348 is provided with a lock nut 358to retain the adjustment. This arrangement permit-s the inward limit ofmovement of the carriage 232 andiall the mechanism carried thereby to benely adjusted.

At station (4), means is provided for rotating the rimming dies 298 andthe pulleys 298. This `means consists of the friction wheel 352 showniii-Figures l and 4. This wheel may be faced with leather or the like toprovide the necessary friction against the periphery Vof the pulley 298at station (4) and is constantly rotated by an electric motor or thelike (not shown) which may be relatively small. The drive from thismotor to the wheel 352 consists of a V-belt 354 and a \!pulley 356. Thewheel 352 and the pulley 356 are mounted on a Ishaft 358 rotatable inarms 36() carried by a shaft 362. The shaft 362 is supported in abracket 364 for rocking movement and has clamped thereto an arm 366 bymeans of a clamp screw 368. Y

The arm 366 is biased clockwise as shown in Figure 4a by a spring 370against a stop nut 372 on a stud 374 extending from the shroud 162 onwhich the bracket 364 is also mounted. This arrangement permits the nut372 to be adjusted so that when a pulley `298 is at station (4) the arm366 is slightly away from the stop nut 372v and that the spring 370 canthus provide the neces sary pressure engage-ment between the frictionwheel 352 and the pulley for driving the pulley from the wheel. Thepulley will also be started in its rotation just befor reaching station(4) and will disengage from the wheel just after lea-ving this station'.

At station (5) means is provided for stripping the finished cup from themandrel and inserting it in nested relationship to the previouslyfinished cups in a delivery tube. This mechanism consists of a bracket376 secured to the carriage 232 by screws 378. The bracket isangleshaped as shown in Figure 7 and carries a pair of studs 380 onwhich cup stripper fingers 382 are pivoted. .These fingers carry stopscrews 384 (see Figure 4) which are 'biased to engage a stop bar 386extending from the bracket 376 by means of springs 388.

Mounted at station (5) is a delivery tube 390 having a half-cylinderextension 392. The delivery tube and its extension are supported by anangle bracket 394 which is secured to an upstanding lug 396 from thebase 10. v

The outer end of the tube extension 392 may be suitably supported by anangle brace 398 shown in Figure 5.

The delivery tube 390 has a flanged entrance as shown in Figure 7, theflange being tout away at each side to accommodate a pair of receivingfingers 402 which are Isecured to the sides of the delivery tube byscrews 404. As shown in Figure 20, each finger is rigidly mounted andincludes a ratchet-like projection 406 to engage the rim of a cup, aswill be described later on.

In Figures 1 and 1a, I show the fiat shape of a cup blank B. In generalit is a segment of a disc having a circular outline and provided with asubstantially rectangular tab, the width of which is indicated at 408 inFigure la, the length of which is indicated at 410. This tab is extendedat 412 to provide additional thickness at the apex of the cone and tocover a safety fold at the apex.

The blank B may be fed as a continuous strip of paper in the direction`of the narrow a the width of the strip being somewhat wider than thewidth of the blank itself indicated by the dimension line w and theblank being cut out of this web without severing the web itself. Thisstrip comes from a continuously fed roll of paper and the blank iscompletely severed therefrom and fed to the mandrel at statio-n (l)where it is grasped by the gripper fingers 54. The feeding of the paperand the severing of the blank therefrom form no part of my presentinvention so have not been illustrated nor described in detail. It issufficient to indicate that the blanks are fed by suitable means on to aplate 413 against a blank guide 414 and with theadvance edge 411 of theblank received in the V-groove 50 against the bottom 74 thereof, thisposition being illustrated particularly in Figure la and 9.

Instead of severing the blanks from a strip, they may be pre-cut,stacked in a magazine, and removed one at a time from the magazine.

On the underside of the tab 408-10 in Figure la, a gum pattern isindicated by the dotted outline 416. The gum appears also in Figure 5 atstation (2) and may be of the heat-seal type. Brieliy, the cone cup isdesigned to be formed into a cone from the fiat shape shown in Figure laafter leaving station (l) and while passing stations (2) and (3) andarriving at station (4), the cone cup forming operation being completedat station (4). At station (3) a safety tab 422 is formed, as willhereinafter be more fully described, and it is optionally covered by thetab 412. At station (4), the rim 0f the` cup is formed cylindrically asindicated at 418 in 8, Figure 21 and is thereafter formed nto'a roll asindicated at 420 in Figure 22.

Practical operation In the operation of my cone cup-forming machine, amandrel 30 arrives at station (l) with its blank gripper fingers 76 open(roller 142 engaging arm 62 at station (1) in Figure 3). After the blankB is fed to the cone with its advance edge 411 in the groove 50, thefingers close as shown at the left side of Figure 4, this action beingaccomplished by the cam 122 of Figure 3 and the roller 142 of the slide132. The bottom 74 of the groove 50 is the` limiting means for the blankat station (l). The mandrel is now ready to be advanced to station (2).

While the mandrel is in transit from station (l) to station (2), itrevolves under the action of its pinion 106 rolling around the peripheryof the gear 108, the move ment of course being accomplished by one ofthe rollers 84 of the gear 82 coacting with one of the slots 80 of theGeneva disc 78. The coaction of the pinion 106 with the gear 108accomplishes a complete revolution of the mandrel clockwise in relationto the turret as it is in transit from station (1) to station (2) sothat at station (2) the blank gripper fingers 76 are again radiallyoutward from the center fof rotation of the turret. The blank B is wipedaround the mandrel by the floating shoe 146, the pressure of which dueto gravity is sufficient for accomplishing a satisfactory wipingoperation.

This completes the first blank wiping revolution and the mandrel stopsand remains stationary with the ad.- hesive lap 408-410 tangent to theouter circular travel line of the mandrel. At this position the mandrelis under the heating pressure shoe 168 as shown adjacent the top ofFigure 7 with the spring 180 slightly compressed. The slight concavity174a in the shoe 168, if provided as hereinbefore mentioned, serves tocover more area of the adhesive and thus improves the setting thereof.The heat applied at this point aids the adhesive in penetrating thepaper and at station (2) the first stage of sealing the side seam or lapof the cup is thus accomplished. The mandrel is then ready for transitto station (3).

As to the reason for the heat and the pressure on the gummed lap seam,in the past it has been difiicult to make a cone cup with the Vside seamsecurely snug and tight. To overcome this, I stop the seam on the outercircle of travel at stations (2) and (3) and apply heat and pressure forsetting the adhesive as well as causing penetration of the adhesive intothe fibres of the paper for producing a seam that holds better.

As the mandrel revolves between stations (2) and (3), a `second wipingrevolution is accomplished by the floating pressure shoe 148. Slightlybefore the mandrel reaches station (3), the sharp apex of the cupengages or impacts the blade 210 to form the safety fold 422, as shownin Figure 13. The fold is bent over as shown more particularly in Figure13a wherein a portion of the tab 412 has been broken away to show thesafety fold more clearly.

The next step at station (3) is for the tab folder plunger 216 toadvance (toward the right in Figure 14) which finishes folding thesafety fold 422 around the rounded apex 33 of the mandrel 30 asillustrated due to the plunger engaging the blade 210 and swinging it ina direction along the inclined surface of the cone cup arriving atstation (3).l The tab 412 is open as illus-- trated at station (2) inFigure 5 (the mandrel of station (3) being broken away t-o show station(2)) and this tab is still loose in Figures 13, 13a, and 14 as theplunger 216 advances. However, its cone socket 218 engages the tab andfolds it over the safety fold 422, the final position being shown inFigure 15.

The tab 412 may be omitted, in which case the cone socket 218 wouldpress the safety fold 422 down securely, but the tab does reinforce theapex of the cone cup by being folded over the safety fold, thusproviding severalfthicknesses off material at, the weakest point ofthecupjwhiehis the apex. As the plunger216 advances, it pushes the blade210 out of the way as illustrated in Figure 15 and when the plungerrecedes, the spring 212 returns the blade to a position against the stopscrew 206, which position is shown in Figure 13. In Figure 12, the partsare` in the same position as in Figure 13-that is,`before theplunger216'advances. The mandrel is now readyto advance to station (4).

As thef mandrel' is in transit from the station (3) to station (4), athird wiping operation is performed to more securely iron down the sideseam as Well asv the safety fold 422 and the tab 412 that covers it. Thecup isjthenready for spinrolling its rim.

lustrbefore the mandrel reachesthe station (4) positionthe fractionpulley 352 engages `the rimming die 290 and the adjacent periphery ofthe pulley 298 for rapidly rotating the die. Asthe tucking die278advances from the position of Figure 16 to the position of Figure 17, itbends down a cylindrical flangeV 418 on the mouth of the cup` as shownin Figure 21 and this flange is then ready for forming into a cup rim.The rim is formed by advancing the rimming die29t0 toward the left fromthe position ofV Figure 17` to the position of Figure 18 while theA sameis` being rotated thereby causing the annular groove 292 to engage thecylindrical flange 418 to Figure17` and turn it into the rolled rim 292of Figures"l8 and 22. As the rimming die advances, the tucking die 2.78which formed the cylindrical flange 418 recedes to permit the rimmingdie to spin-roll the rim.420.

The tucking die 278 ispropelled in both directions by movement of thecarriage 232 and the rimming `die 290 is advancedby the shoe 306engaging in the groove 294 of the pulley 298V and moving the pulley outof alignment with the rG-track 296. The rimming die is then retractedandi the groove of the pulley again aligned with the C-track for advanceof the mandrel to the next station.

In addition to the forming of the cylindrical liange 418 and the rolledrim 420 on the cup at station (4), the cup is pressed against themandrel bythe cone 272under theiactionrof the spring 282 asV the coneand its rear guide portion 276slide in the members 278 and 268.` At thesame time, the heating plunger 262 applies additional heat and pressureto the safety fold 422 and its covering tab 412 to more thoroughly setthe parts that form the apex and adjacent portions of the cup. As theannular groove 292 spins the rim 420 on the Cup, the rim is turned aboutthree-fourths of a circle and the upper end of the iiange 418 finallyengages the tucking lip 288 so as to tuck the leading edge of the iiangeunder the roll being formed and its final shape is slightly more than acomplete circle as shown in Figure 18.

After the carriage 232 has been retracted, the turret is again advancedfor moving the completed cup from station (4) to station (5).

Just before the mandrel reaches station (5 the gripper fingers 54 areopened to the position of Figure l0 by means of the roller 144 on thearm 138 as illustrated in Figure 3. The edge 411 of the blank B has thusbeen gripped continuously from the time the blank leaves station (l)until the cup is finished and ready to be discharged at station (5).This prevents the blanks from slipping on the mandrels at any time whilethe cups are being formed. At station (5), the cup is removed from themandrel by means of the cup stripping ngers 382 which, as the bracket376 advances to the position of Figure 7, swing outwardly against theaction of the springs 388 and snap over the rim of the cup, thisposition being shown particularly in Figure 7a. Upon the reversemovement of the bracket 376, the cup is carried by the iingers 382 andstacked in the cups already removed from the mandrels in previous cyclesof operation of the machine `and which were caused to slide into thedelivery tube 390.

In entering" the `delivery tube, the rinn of the Cup passes between apair of' rigid fingers, 402 andtsnap pasf the. ratchet-like projections406 thereof, as shown by dottedlines in Figure 19, whereupon the cupthen springs" outto its full circular shape behind these projections topreventit from being withdrawn when the stripper fingers 382 are nextmoved toward the next cup at station (5) for stripping ittfrom themandrel. The size of the tube 3 90 is such as to frictionally engage thecupswith enough tension to cause them to be closely nested and graduallyfed through theA delivery tube into the half-,cylindrical extension 392thereof from which they` may be removed for packing.

Station (6) is `anidle station where nothing is performed on the cup andthe ngers 54 are opened just prior to reaching station (l).

Some changes may be made in the construction and arrangement of theAparts of my cone cup machine without departing from the real spirit andpurpose of my invention, and it is my intention to cover by my claimsany modiiied forms of structure or use of mechanical equivalents whichmay be reasonably included within theirscope.

I Aclaim` as myinvention:

l. In a cup forming machine of the character disclosed, a rotary head, aplurality of cone mandrels carried by said head and each rotatablerelative thereto, means for driving said rotary head intermittently andsaid mandrels intermittently only while said head is rotating,riminingmechanism for the cup at one station of the machine, andremovingv and stacking mechanism at a` further station thereof, saidremoving and stacking mechanism comprising a pair of arms for removingthe cup fromthe mandrehsaid arms being pivotally mounted on an axissubstantially parallel to the cup axis and biased to engage over the`rim of a cup on a mandrel at said further station, saidfarms beingarcuate and each having-a ratchet-like bead to engage over a substantialportionl of the periphery of said rim, said arms being reciprocablymountedfor effecting such engagement and forthen carrying, the cup awayfrom the mandrel, a stacking tube to receive the cup socarried, saidstacking tube having, between the ends of said arcuate arms when theyapproach said stacking tube, xed and rigid rim engaging holding catchespast which said arms carry the cup and cause the cup to deform to ovalshape and snap into position behind shoulders of said holding catches sothat the cup is thereby held as the arms return to transfer another cupfrom a mandrel to the stacking tube.

2. In a cup forming machine, a tapered cup forming mandrel, means forremoving a cup from said mandrel comprising a pair of opposite cupengaging arms encircling a major portion of the diameter of the cup andresiliently constrained toward position for engaging the cup at itslargest diameter, means to move said arms in one direction to cupengaging position while the cup is on said mandrel and then in a reversedirection for stripping the cup from said mandrel and supporting it asit is transported from the mandrel, and a cup receiving and stackingtube having rigid hooked fingers out of alignment with said arms andlocated between their ends when said arms have completed their movementin said one direction, said fingers deforming the cup to an oval shapeas it is forced past the hooks of the fingers by said cup engaging arms,the cup edge thereupon engaging in the hooks of said fingers when thecup engaging arms return for another cup to thereby retain the cups insaid stacking tube.

3. In a cup forming machine, a tapered cup forming mandrel, means forremoving a cup from said mandrel comprising a pair of cup engagingelements resiliently constrained toward position for engaging the cup onopposite sides thereof at its largest diameter and throughout the majorportion of its circumference, means to move said elements in onedirection tov cup engaging position while the cup is on the mandrel andthen in a reverse direction for stripping the cup from said mandrel, anda' cup receiving and stacking tube having a pair of rigid hooked fingersfor engaging opposite sides of said largest diameter between the endlimits of said pair of cup engaging elements and deforming the cup aspermitted by the spreading of said pair of cup engaging elements undertheir resilient constraint and as the cupy is forced past the hooks ofthe fingers by said cup engaging elements, the cup edge thereuponengaging in said hooked fingers when the cup engaging elements returnfor another cup to thereby retain the cups in said stacking tube, saidcup engaging elements, as they move in said one direction, advancing thestack of removed cups along said cup receiving and stacking tube.

4. In a cup forming machine, a rotary head, a plurality of cone mandrelscarried by said head and each rotatable relative thereto, means fordriving said rotary head intermittently and for rotating said mandrelswhile the head is rotating, and removing and stacking mechanism at onestation of the machine, said removing and stacking mechanism comprisinga pair of arms for removing the cup from the mandrel, said arms beingarcuate in a plane normal to the axis of the cup to engage substantialportions yof the cup rim, said arms being biased to engage over the rimlof a cup on a mandrel at said one station, said arms being reciprocallymounted and having cone-segment faces diverging toward the large end ofthe cup for electing such engagement by spreading of said arms againsttheir bias as they are moved axially of the cup and toward its largeend, and then for carrying the cup away from the mandrel, a cupreceiving and stacking element to receive and stack the cups so carried,and means carried thereby to prevent return of a cup with said arcuatearms as they return to remove another cup from a mandrel,

5. In a cup forming machine of the character disclosed, a rotary head, aplurality of cone mandrels carried by said head and each rotatablerelative thereto, means for rotating said rotary head, rimming mechanismfor the cup at a station of the machine, and removing and stackingmechanism at a further station thereof comprising a pair of opposite rimreceiving elements for removing the cup from the mandrel, said elementsbeing 12 biased to engage over the rim of a cup on a mandrel at saidfurther station, said elements being reciprocably mounted for electingsuch engagement and for then supporting and carrying the cup away fromthe mandrel, a stacking tube to receive the cup so carried, saidstacking tube having rigidly xed opposite rim engaging hold ing catchespast which said elements carry the cup and cause the cup to deformagainst the bias of saidrim receiving elements and snap into positionbehind shoulders of said holding catches so that the cup is thereby heldas the arms return to transfer another cup from a mandrel to saidstacking tube, said opposite rimengaging holding catches being staggeredbetween said opposite rim re# ceiving elements. v

6. In a cup forming machine of the character disclosed, a rotary head, aplurality of cone mandrels carried by said head and each rotatablerelative thereto, means for rotating said rotary head, bead formingmechanism for the cup at a station of the machine, and removing andstacking mechanism at a further station thereof, comprising a pair ofopposite bead receiving elements for removing the cup from the mandrel,said elements being biased to engage over the bead of a cup on a mandrelat said further station and arcuate in shape to engage substantialportions of the cup bead to thereby support the cup for carrying it,said elements being reciprocably mounted for effecting such engagementand for then carrying the cup away from the mandrel, a stacking tube toreceive the cup so carried, said stacking tube having opposite beadengaging holding catches past which said elements carry the cup, saidcatches being rigid to cause the cup to deform and snap into positionbehind shoulders of said holding catches so that the cup is thereby heldas the arms return to transfer another cup from a mandrel to saidstacking tube, said bead receiving elements and said holding catchesbeing arranged alternately surrounding the cup, said elements, whenforcing the bead of a cup past the shoulders of said catches, advancingthe 2,017,521 Whiting, Jr. Oct. 15, 1935 2,203,513 Amberg June 4, 19402,321,407

Merta June 8, 1943

